P. Evdokimov and moral theology

This article by Bertrand Vergely, professor at the Institut Saint-Serge, offers a systematic study of Paul Evdokimov's moral theology based on the posthumous work *Une vision orthodoxe de la théologie morale* (Cerf, 2009). The approach is both analytical and comparative: Vergely examines the philosophical foundations of morality and theology, traces the crisis of moral theology in Western Europe, and evaluates the responses provided by Nietzsche before setting out the Orthodox contribution. The central idea is that Evdokimov refuses to ground morality in abstract principles, natural norms, or social structures, choosing instead to anchor it in the experience of personal transformation proper to ecclesial life — liturgy, sacraments, communion, and interiorized monasticism. The theological contribution lies in the valorization of the patristic concept of deification as the only coherent foundation for an authentic Christian ethics, transcending both religious moralism and secular moralism.